“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lord of hosts.” - Zechariah 8:6
In days past, revival came by careful, humble, sacrificial living from God’s people. Only God himself can send revival, and only God himself can accomplish it. Revival will not come through man's ingenuity. Revival cannot be orchestrated; it cannot be commanded. True, genuine, Holy Ghost revival is a function of God himself. Therefore, it lies in God’s people seeking, serving, and believing God himself.
In the eighth chapter of Zechariah, the Word of the Lord came to the prophet in the second year of Darius king of Persia. Zechariah is prophesying at the same time as Haggai who said, “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?” Also, Ezra the scribe is back in Jerusalem working to rebuild the temple (the Lord’s house that lies in waste). The Word of the Lord comes to Zechariah and tells him that God is jealous over Zion, and over Jerusalem. He tells him that He will dwell in Jerusalem. That the aged men and women will walk the streets once more, and the streets of the city will fill with children at play. Then the Word of the Lord says, if it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvelous in mine eyes? Take a moment, imagine Jerusalem in desolation, imagine the temple in ruin and God’s people removed from that country. Consider that just a few are left there. Now, can you imagine the faith it would take to believe that God would be there? That men, women, and children would be together in the streets: safe, secure, and happy? God says if it be marvelous in your eyes, it will be marvelous in mine. God says, if this scene is marvelous, wonderful, incredible to you; it will be to me. This is the message from God to God’s people. When you look out at our land and country today, if holiness people think of themselves as just a remnant living in a desolate decaying Jerusalem, and that is all there is; we will never see revival. Worse still, if we love Babylon (i.e., this world), and long for it, what hope is there for revival to become marvelous in our eyes? What is marvelous in your eyes? What is incredible to you? What gives you pause, causes you to stop and look? Is it someone who has lots of money? Someone who possesses an abundance of talent? The newest trend, latest fashion, coolest gadget? Do we really want to see a sinner break with the world and fall in love with God; or do we just sing about it? Would we rather see the Holy Ghost grip this nation and turn us back to holiness, or simply talk about it? Jesus told of a parable of the unjust judge who totally ignored a widow woman that was wronged by an adversary. The Word says by her “continually coming” she persuaded Him. If the unjust judge did right, how much more would the Judge of all the Earth? How much more would God in heaven if we humble ourselves, continually seek His face, and make holiness marvelous in our eyes?
There is a cross for us to bear, when we get to the place where we want to bear it, we love to bear it; we desire God’s conviction and direction over everything else; we crave the burden of revival in our own lives and we are willing to sacrifice to see it. Thereby making the vision of revival marvelous in our eyes. I just believe God will honor that. Revival starts within, not without. As in the days of Josiah the King, we must look to our own house and ask God to clean out the rubbish and clear out the “shelf behind the door.” Read His Word, commit to prayer, and be honest with God. When he answers by fire in our heart, it will make revival marvelous in our eyes, consequently in His, and by God’s grace he will make it marvelous to the world.
